CHILDREN from a Barrow primary school joined in a national campaign to track which birds are found in their area.

The pupils of Dane Ghyll School took part in the RSPB Big Bird watch, which this year celebrated its 40th anniversary.

Each year the RSPB invite schools and individual members of the public to take part in the bird watch to track which are found around the country.

Back in 1979, the RSPB joined forces with BBC’s Blue Peter and called on children to let them know what birds they saw in their garden. Hundreds took up the call, and in those pre-digital days, posted in their findings. The RSPB team were faced with an impressive 34 mail bags full of post to sort.

However 40 years later the schools findings are all logged online. The children all received a markings sheet with pictures of the birds and a short description.

Louise Postlethwaite, head gardener at Dane Ghyll, said: "Each year the children take park in the Big Bird watch.

"A whole class sit quietly outside in our wildlife area and in the school gardens and field to monitor the birds.

"Year Five children thoroughly enjoyed their afternoon. Our findings were submitted to the RSPB and we have received a certificate from them."

Year Six made bird feeders from pinecones covered in lard and birdseed. They also used cheerio cereal threaded onto string to make bird feeding necklaces.